Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 20 Jun 2000

Vol. 521 No. 4

Written Answers. - Health Board Allowances.

David Stanton

Ceist:

144 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Health and Children the monthly rate currently payable to those who qualify for the mobility allowance; the conditions under which this allowance is paid; the plans, if any, he has to increase the payment and or relax the conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17117/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The mobility allowance for people with disabilities was introduced by Department of Health Circular No. 15/79 and is available to all persons with disabilities, including those with a visual impairment, who meet the eligibility criteria laid down in that circular. Circular No. 15/79 states that:

the scheme applies to persons in the age group 16 to 66 years who are unable to walk and who would benefit from occasional trips away from home.

Although eligibility is confined to persons who are normally living at home, mobility allowance may continue to be paid in respect of occasional stays in hospital of up to eight weeks.

As stated, an applicant must be under pensionable age. However, an allowance, once granted, will be continued after this age as long as the other criteria for eligibility are met.

The mobility allowance is a means tested allowance.

The essential medical criterion for the grant of the allowance is that the applicant is unable to walk, even with the use of artificial limbs or other suitable aids, or is in such a condition of health that the exertion required to walk would be dangerous. It is necessary that this criterion should be interpreted strictly. The inability to walk has to be likely to persist for at least one year and the applicant must not be forbidden for medical reasons from being moved. The applicant must be in a condition to benefit from a change in his/her surroundings.

It is a matter for the senior area medical officer in the relevant health board to decide whether the medical criteria are satisfied in any individual case.

The current maximum rate of payment for the mobility allowance, as of 3 May 2000, is £45.60 per month. The rate is increased each year in line with budgetary increases in social welfare payments.